A "rough harvest" batch of the famous pyrite/marcasite stars - Lot 174

Mineralogy: Edmond DIEMER Collection

Sale on Thursday, June 4 from 2pm

5 rue de Provence 75009

Exhibition :

Wednesday June 3, 11am to 6pm

Thursday June 4 from 10.30am to 12.30pm

The Edmond Diemer collection:

Edmond Diemer (1929-2008) was an engineer with a major geophysics company.

his work and took advantage of the opportunity to organize exploration trips. Around 1980/90 he

accompanied Professor Théodore Monod (of the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle) on the

rediscovery of the famous Libyan glasses, mysterious witnesses to the fall of a meteorite (1)

...This sale will bring to light probably the finest and largest collection (over 30

kg in all) of this precious natural glass: an exceptional event! Edmond Diemer, along with the

Carion family, will also discover the most beautiful pseudomorphoses of pyrite/marcasite into goethite

of Egypt; there are several hundred waiting to be cleaned... A fine collection of meteorites

meteorites with historic falls; a collection of impactite and a fine series of fulgurite

always collected during his travels, complete the picture. In retirement, he developed

his passion for petrography by resuming his university studies, which is reflected in his

which is reflected in the contents of his collection by the presence of rare or curious rocks (they are

for the curious). The quality of the minerals varies from

some particularly beautiful samples to simple results of personal collections that have not been

not been showcased since their extraction, through to mineralogical classics and a few rare

some rare species, as well as some particularly well-chosen thumbnails(2).

(1) See the book "Zerzura, l'oasis légendaire du désert Libyque".

(2) Minerals between 2mm and 3 cm. In theory, they should fit into a 1" square box

square or 2.54 cm2. These minerals are the subject of competitions in some countries. The quality of

crystallization...

Expert's warning:

The minerals are delivered as is. In recent years, the collection has been left in untidy display cases

in wooden crates in the cellar for nearly 20 years. The minerals

are very dirty, covered in dust and the like. Clearly, this collection is very interesting in terms of the

the quality of some of the minerals, the rarity of others, the naturalistic sincerity of the species

the extraordinary series of meteorites, tektites and the XX kg of Libyan glass.

glass. Some of the meteorites are in sealed bags, which we have chosen not to open

to risk prematurely altering what may be fragile specimens. For those with a minimum

the know-how of serious cleaning and have a minimum knowledge of the objects

there are undoubtedly bargains to be had, in minerals and rocks as well as meteorites and

meteorites and related items (tektites, impactites, fulgurites). Happy rock hunting

Alain Martaud

Notes: Purchasers of lots on trays or plastic handles are kindly requested to bring the necessary cardboard and packaging.

cardboard boxes and packaging, and not to sort on the premises or on the sidewalk;

the awarding of a lot implies that the lot has been taken in its entirety: no garbage on the premises or on the adjacent

will be tolerated.